Good mental health is essential for a happy and healthy life. It’s what impacts our thoughts, behaviors and emotions. 

This is why it’s so important for us as teens to focus and pay attention to how we are feeling.

According to mentalhealthliteracy.org, 1 in 5 young people suffer from a mental illness. 

Mental illness can make things you do on a day-to-day basis difficult. Going to school, socializing and getting out of bed can feel like a task when you’re struggling. 

I can’t speak for all teens when I say this, but I believe school is definitely one of the main factors as to why teens’ mental health can take a major decline.

Tests, essays, projects and the pressure to have those perfect grades are all issues that play into the result of stress.

 As teens we get so caught up in the pressure to be perfect in school, but no one is perfect.

Yes, some may advance faster than you at something, may get a better grade on that one test than you, or may seem like they have their whole life together.

The truth, though, is that we all struggle, some more than others and that’s OK. Take some time for yourself and find things that help distract you from the negative thoughts.

Journaling, listening to music or watching your favorite show are some subtle ways to calm you down in times of stress. 

You can also talk to someone — believe me it helps more than you’d think. Sit down and talk about what’s overwhelming or stressing you out to someone who will be there for you and listen. 

Mental health is a topic we need to shed more light on. If your mindset is negative, then your whole perspective of life will be. And that isn’t OK.

Sometimes it’s hard for us to reach out for help, but no matter the struggle it’s important to remember that it’s okay to not be “okay.”

Some may think that asking for help makes them seem “weak.” The truth though is that it doesn’t, we are all humans and we each go through our own struggles. 

At the end of the day if you know you need help, talk to someone, it’ll only do more damage to your mental health if you don’t get the help you need.